mercury(ii) adsorption onto the magnesium oxide impregnated volcanic ash soil derived ceramic from aqueous phase

the present investigation attempted to develop the ceramic adsorbent media in order to remove the mercury from aqueous phase. two ceramics, akadama volcanic ash soil-ceramic (aceramic) and improved magnesium oxide impregnated akadama volcanic ash soil-ceramic (maceramic) were produced from raw akadama volcanic ash soil by heating process to determine the hg(ii) adsorption capacity. adsorption experiments of ceramics were performed as a function of contact time, solution ph, adsorbent dosage and adsorbate concentration following the batch mode operation. results clearly revealed the adsorption capacity (265±8.5 μg/g) of ma-ceramic is significantly higher (~12 times) than that of the a-ceramic material. the adsorption was largely ph dependent and neutral ph was associated with higher mercury adsorption capacity in both ceramics. ma-ceramic showed 94% and 86% desorption and resorption capacities, respectively.